Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-08-11
Welded At A wAsArua


4 We0t0rn C1erKymon Relates Some ~
He Nest Amusing Experiences
The first marriage that solemnized
after settling down among the hills
and paw-paw bushes OF Southern Indi-
ana was about forty-seven years ago
1t was . pleasant October evening. and
l was sitting by good. big fire in .
little log house. just recovering from .
two months tussle with inflammatory
rheumatism. Although I had come
out Of the struggle . victor. yet the
severe contest had left my body and
and limbs in a dilapidated condition.
while my summers work had brought
me little corn or less cash. So my
financial affairs were in about IS bad
condition as my swollen limbs. My
rheumatism compelled me to relin-
quish the school that had contracted
to teach through the winter, thus rem
dering my prospects for supply Of
bread and butter through the cold sea-
son quite precarious.
While l sat pondering over these nm
pleasant facts. studying how to get the
next sack of flour, two couples of
young people of the neighborhoOd
walked in. After few commonplace
remarks. one Of the young men whis-
pered to me asking me whether l
would marry him to one of those girls
and take my pay in wheat Five MINI
utes later the husband and wife
walked out to commence battling with
the realities of partnership for life.
The customary fee for marrying was
one dollar. and the price of wheat
then was fifty cents a bushel. A few
weeks after this the man brought me
bushel and three pecks of wheat,
and promised to bring the other peck
as soon as his employer threshcd it
out Inever saw the wheat or man
afterward.
The next job l had in that line was
in better style, but less romantic. The
man in this affair was we'll polished
and in good circumstances. He was a
doctor and owned grocery and
worked a farm. The woman was liv-
ing in his fathers family as maid of all
work. He wanted to be married. but
was not particular about the day or
hour-any time when l had business
that way might call and fix them up.
A few days aftcrward called at his
home and found him hard at work on
big load of hay. He requested me to
60 into the house and wait till he had
pitched off the load. l did so. and
found his girl over a wash tub. and up
to her elbows in suds and dirty clothes.
She continued working and chatting
till the man came in. when she rinsed
off her hands, rolled down her sleeves,
and they stepped out for the ceremony.
he without coat. and they were soon
legally spliced together. We then
spent Il half hour or less at lunch.
made up of bread, cheese, Goldfish and
water-nothing more. Ireceived 90. so
in groceries for that Job.
These occurrences show the different
tastes of people, and serve as spice in
the more solid realities of live; but
have one to describe that was
was little too real to be pleasurable
1t occurred away up among the forests
of Northern New York, when that
was new. Houses were then
all made of logs. and. instead of cup
boards and safes. these were broad,
long shelves suspended from the up
per joints, on which milk-pans, cooked
food. etc. were kept. The milk-pans
were earthen, and held one or two
gallons. The wedding to which refer
was in one of the ''frst families. which
was every way respectable. Twas not
an actor, but an uncle of mine, who
bore my name. was the officiating
At these weddings dim
ner was always served. and one of the |
principal items was fat chicken pot
pie. And nobody knew better than
those Yankee women how to make
one. On this occasion the large room
was filed with merry kinsfolks and |
neighbors. And while the ceremony
was being performed and congratulate
tons and kisses exchanged the big pot
was hanging over the fire, and the
chickens and their furnishings were
boiling and throwing off steam that
made score or more of mouths water
in anticipation Of the feast
The long table was covered with
white cloths and shining dishes. and at
he proper time the new brides mother
swung out the crane. and set the pot
upon the hearth and filled one of the
arge pans with the steaming pie.
Thus far every thing had passed off
but when the woman at
empted to lift the precious load upon
he table the pan broke through the
middle and left the contents on the